Reference at the time of writing this article: MCC’s The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code (3rd Edition–2022).
Batter’s efforts on the field are reflected in the runs they score. Runs are scored in the form of a boundary 4 or 6, which many times look magnificent, but sometimes it is just luck. Runs are also scored in the form of various allowances and penalties. A more frequent form of scoring event is when the batters run between the wickets and get their efforts rewarded. Whichever way the runs are scored, let us be clear that there are no ‘shortcuts’ to score a run, and the shortcuts are never rewarded.
The ‘shortcut’ being referred to here is the concept of ‘Short Run’ in cricket.
Batters complete a run when they cross each other and make their ground good at the opposite end, which makes it a completed run. In case the batters are taking multiple runs if any of the runs are not complete, then that run is treated as a “Short Run’ and that run is either ‘not scored’ or ‘all the runs are disallowed’.
Before proceeding further, read the last statement again which is a critical statement for this article.
Short runs which we frequently see are ‘unintentional’ and generally occur as part of a flow. That’s why those ‘short runs’ are ‘not scored’ and other runs scoring opportunities continue to remain open. They are simply a missed opportunity towards scoring a run even after making the effort of running between the wickets. However, note that the next run is not considered as short if completed even though it is technically short.
Cricket critically recognizes an event called ‘Deliberate Short Runs’ which is not an event of missed opportunity, but an act of gaining an advantage, and treated as unfair. This act is not taken lightly and the consequences are severe.
From the perspective of completing a run or ending up being short, unintentional and deliberate short are not different from each other. What makes it different is the ‘intent’. The deliberateness is many times decided on the distance the batters cover and the situation of the match. The intent is reflected in the form of the batter trying to get the strike. Whenever either or both batters are involved in deliberately running short, they invite trouble in the form of the on-field umpires stepping in and taking a series of actions towards non-rewarding.
If either umpire feels that it was a deliberate attempt to run short, they just wait for the ball to become dead for initiating the process under the ‘Deliberate Short Runs’ clause. It is important to wait for the ball to become dead and not to call it a ‘dead ball’ as soon as the short run is noticed so as to keep the window open for further actions including the possibility of dismissal or any event which can attract penalty runs.
It is important for both the umpires to be aware of what had occurred before they initiate the process. Irrespective of whichever end the deliberate short run had occurred, the process is initiated by the bowler’s umpire.
Because it is an unfair act, all the runs are ‘disallowed’, including the runs which are legally scored by running between the wickets of that delivery. If the ball delivered is a no ball or a wide ball, then the disallowance of runs excludes 1 run to be scored for no ball or a wide ball. If any other actions have taken place during that delivery which attracts 5 penalty runs to either side, they too are excluded from being disallowed. However, 5 penalty runs that are awarded to the batting side when the ball in the play comes in contact with the helmet belonging to the fielding side kept on the ground are not awarded either.
Once the runs are disallowed to the batting side, the next action will be to award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side for the deliberate act committed by the batters.
The next step is the strike restoration process similar to what it was at the start of that delivery (when the ball came into play for that delivery). The batters are sent back to their original ends irrespective of where they were when the ball became dead. If any batter is dismissed, then the dismissal is not reversed and the not out batter is sent to the original end.
Finally, before proceeding further with the game, it is important to ensure that the incident and actions taken are informed to the captain of the fielding side, batters in the middle, and the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable, and importantly the scorers for correct recording of the events as the umpires have the responsibility of ensuring the correctness of the scores as well.
Post-match, the incident is reported to the governing body of the game which adds accountability to the actions taken on the field. As per the MCC laws of Cricket, it is mandatory to report the incident, however, many of the playing conditions have kept the reporting optional.
It is very evident now that an act that was intentionally committed to gain an advantage by the batters has resulted in them getting penalized and the fielding side getting rewarded.